House Passes Five-Year Transportation Bill

Statement

Congressman Blake Farenthold released a statement today following passage of the first long-term transportation bill since 2005. As a House conferee, Congressman Farenthold was able to ensure key provisions were included in the final version of the legislation, including making it easier for family farmers and custom harvesters to transport the amount of fuel necessary to meet the demands of improved agricultural equipment.

"This legislation is a win for Texas and the nation. It increases state and local control while maintaining a strong commitment to safety," Congressman Farenthold said. "The bill included language I championed that designates sections of State Highway 44 from Robstown to Freer into the I-69 system, granting the city of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi International Airport and the Port of Corpus Christi the benefits of being located on an Interstate Highway."

Highlights of the Fixing Surface Transportation (FAST) Act:

- Facilitates commerce and the movement of goods by refocusing existing funding for a National Highway Freight Program and a Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program.

- Expands funding available for bridges off the National Highway System.

- Streamlines the environmental review and permitting process to accelerate project approvals.

- Eliminates or consolidates at least six separate offices within the Department of Transportation and establishes a National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau to help states, local governments, and the private sector with project delivery.

- Promotes private investment in our surface transportation system.

- Promotes the deployment of transportation technologies and congestion management tools.

- Ensures more states are eligible for safety incentive grant funds and encourages states to adopt additional safety improvements.

- Encourages states to increase safety awareness of commercial motor vehicles.

- Grants states more power to decide how to spend training and planning funds for first responders.

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